The Convention Industry Council (CIC) announced it is officially joining the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM)’s Wi-Fi Coalition. The announcement, made at CIC’s recent Board and Council Meeting, comes with the promise of full Council support.
Wi-Fi, while a key commodity that many meeting attendees and consumers feel the need to access, is not free. The cost of bandwidth, and other related factors, affect its efficiency, making it even more imperative to deliver a successful connection for a meeting or event. The coalition was initially formed to address the backlash against venues blocking personal Wi-Fi devices and the subsequent involvement of the FCC. Led by IAVM, the coalition is comprised of a cross section of the overall industry.
"We believe that delivering an exceptional technology experience at meetings and events requires a new level of collaboration and dialogue between venue managers, service providers, show organizers, meeting planners, exhibitors, and guests,” said Vicki Hawarden, CMP, President and CEO of IAVM.
The coalition’s main goal is to establish standard operating principles and rules that ensure a reliable Wi-Fi environment for all users. Coalition members are currently working on a draft of “common sense standards,” outlining the technical challenges and associated issues with high density Wi-Fi areas.
The multifaceted issues affect all key segments and stakeholders in the meetings, incentive, exhibitions and convention industry that utilize wireless systems including venues, event organizers, meeting professionals and third party providers. When multiple devices are utilized in a space, like a tradeshow floor, problems arise around interference based on the increased density of users.
Educating consumers and attendees on the types of devices, activities and/or systems that utilize bandwidth will also be a part of the coalition’s charge to communicate acceptable broadcasting parameters, once the standards are decided. The final task of the coalition is to develop standard contract and license terms to be used and enforced in the industry.
Wi-Fi Coalition members include:
- Vicki Hawarden, CMP, CAE, IAVM
- Fred Peterson, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
- Ryan Thorpe, McCormick Place/SMG
- Mark Haley, Smart City Networks
- Mark Sims, Javits Center
- John Rissi, PSAV, CIC APEX Chair
- David DuBois, CAE, FASAE, CTA, CMP, IAEE
- Cathy Breden, CMP, IAEE
- Chris Brown
- Ryan Stowger, IAAPA
- Barney Lavengood, Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium
- Michael Owen, EventGenuity
- Brett Mitchell, Overland Park Kansas Convention Center
- Glenda Brungardt, HP Marketing
- Jim Wurm, Exhibit & Event Marketers Association
- Stacey Knoppell, Baltimore Convention Center
- Russell Rice, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Here are some links to articles provided by the commission:
The Wi-Fi Dilemma: Part 1 and The Wi-Fi Dilemma: Part 2.
